Continued Concern About Turkmenistan

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to respond to the information provided by Turkmenistan. We thank Turkmenistan for its response to the invoking of the Vienna and Moscow Mechanisms.

I would like to repeat what we said last week: the United States deplores the violence committed during the reported November 25 incident. While we understand the Government of Turkmenistan's desire to investigate thoroughly the attack and bring those guilty to justice, we remain concerned by the manner in which the investigation is being conducted. We are particularly concerned about reports that confessions have been extracted by torture. Moreover, such confessions would not be admissible in court.

We had hoped to receive a complete list of those in detention, along with any charges pending against them and the evidence on which those charges are based. Persons should be arrested based on evidence of involvement in the attack itself, not because of alleged ties to opposition organizations or personalities. We continue to be concerned about reports that family members of suspects have also been arrested, and some properties confiscated.

We are also concerned by the OSCE Center in Ashgabat's reports of continued arrests, and the illegal search of the residence of the Ambassador of Uzbekistan. We call on the Government of Turkmenistan to address the reported illegal search of diplomatic premises and to confirm its adherence to internationally agreed diplomatic norms.

Turkmenistan has freely undertaken its OSCE and other international commitments. We again call on the Government of Turkmenistan to conduct itself in a manner consistent with its obligations under international law.

Mr. Chairman, we understand that there are a sufficient number of countries interested in pursing the second part of the Moscow Mechanism under paragraph 12 -- the sending of a fact-finding mission of experts. We fully support taking this action. We urge the Government of Turkmenistan to cooperate fully with the other States involved and IJDIHR to arrange a prompt and thorough visit by the fact-finding mission.

This part of the Moscow Mechanism has been used several times before. More often than not, it has been invoked by countries seeking OSCE assistance with a specific issue. We hope that the Government of Turkmenistan will view this instance in that light. President Niyazov himself has complained that foreign media are exaggerating the number of persons arrested, and that all those detained are being treated in accordance with international standards. He also maintains that his government has proof of these persons' involvement in the November 25 incident. This fact-finding mission, consisting of objective experts chosen not only by the States invoking the Moscow Mechanism but also by Turkmenistan itself, should be able to give an independent and objective assessment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.